Jovin Lampshades and Lighting Blog

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

When you are running a business, it's important to furnish
it with lampshades that will be both functional and appealing to the eye. There
are a lot of factors that will determine which types of lampshades you choose,
but before you even get started, it's necessary to understand some of the
basics. For instance, do you know the difference between hard back and silk
lampshades? If not, here is a short guide on the subject.

Basic Construction

The main difference between these two types of shades is how
each is constructed. A hard back lampshade is made by laminating a fabric onto
a plastic inner liner, fitting it around two circular metal wires (for
support), and then gluing the ends together. Silk shades are made using a
separate fabric inner liner and outer fabric covering, both of which are
stretched over a metal frame (comprised of two wire rings on opposing ends and
wires that connect them). These are then sewn or glued to the fabric that will
be visible on the outside of the shade.

Price Matters

The differences between these two shade types extend into
their pricing. Silk shades are generally more expensive, not because they are
made of silk (most aren't -- the term merely designates them as fabric shades
as opposed to plastic ones), but because the process of making them takes
longer and requires more expensive materials (metal wire, several types of
fabric), and the resulting product often has a longer lifespan. However,
because Jovin uses a heavier-duty plastic than the industry standard and goes
out of its way to provide quality fabric options
for its hard back lampshades, the difference between the two types is much
more negligible.

Variety of Styles

Because of the method of construction, you'll have more
shape options with a silk lampshade than a hard back. After all, the hard back
uses stiff plastic; this makes having a curved, bell-shaped shade impossible.
Hard back lampshades still offer a variety of options, though, including ovals,
rectangles, and squares -- basically, anything without a slope. For companies
who are furnishing an office with practical lighting, for instance, this would
probably be the most cost-effective option.

Hard Back Lampshade

Silk Lampshade

Ease of Cleaning

Knowing which shades are easier to clean will help you choose
the more practical option. Both types of shades can be cleaned by simply
dusting and vacuuming, and usually that's all they need. However, for more
extensive dirt and grime, silk shades are a lot easier to clean because they
can be soaked. Hard backs have to be spot cleaned very carefully to avoid
getting the glued areas wet. Neither of these options is easy, but the good
news is that you can easily choose shades based on the likelihood of staining.
For example, one might choose a silk shade for a single lamp on a low table in
a high-traffic area. Lamps set above everyone's heads, on the other hand, are
unlikely to have anything spilled on them, so hard back lampshades make perfect
sense.